Most individuals have an idea of what nurses do. You have likely come in contact with a nurse at least once in your lifetime. And you probably have seen them in action. However, even though the general public knows what a nurse’s duties are, there are numerous misconceptions about the nursing profession that people have yet to understand.
That said, the matter is that a nurse’s skills and duties only cover a tiny aspect of the nursing profession. Nurses have to utilize their critical thinking and decision-making skills day in and day out to understand their patients’ healthcare needs and requirements.
That said, everyone knows that nursing is a noble profession, and nurses are amongst the most respected healthcare professionals where you go. However, the nursing field has been on a pathway of evolution since the last few decades, constantly growing at breakneck speeds. As a result, nurses are tasked with other duties that stretch far beyond just taking patients’ vitals and administering medication.
In fact, more and more nurses are taking up leadership roles and operating their private practice to improve the overall patient experience and care. With this in mind, let us look at ways nurses enhance patient experience and make our healthcare system better than it was before.
By Staying Up to Date With the Latest Nursing and Healthcare Advancements
A nurse’s responsibility is to stay updated with the latest in the healthcare and nursing profession. They do this because it enables them to utilize the newest treatment and nursing techniques to improve their patient’s overall care experience while also being an asset to their employer.
And an easy way to add to and enhance their knowledge is through experience and advanced education. For instance, nurses looking to improve their nursing skills can enroll in an online nursing masters degree to brush up on their patient care and medical knowledge.
Moreover, some nurses might have to obtain other degrees, certifications, or programming skills to operate new healthcare technologies and equipment.
By Noticing Problems and Irregularities
A nurse is always nearby to notice changes in patients’ symptoms. Their assessment gives them a front-row seat, catering to every patient’s particular medical condition. They identify changes to know which specific change requires more concern than others.
Moreover, when lab results come in, they check them out and share them with other medical professionals to ensure the patients receive the necessary care and treatments.
That said, while nurses aren’t responsible for prescribing medication to patients, they use patient data to ensure that whatever treatment or drug the patient is getting is correct and effective for treating their condition.
Such an emphasis on patient-centered care enables nurses to improve the patient experience tenfold.
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By Advocating for Their Patients
It isn’t usual, but sometimes nurses often assist patients long after being treated for their medical condition. Moreover, they take a more holistic approach to patient care than a doctor or surgeon who does their job and leaves. This approach enables them to look after a patient physically, psychologically, and spiritually and treat their body, soul, and mind.
While there will always be time limits, advocating and providing holistic treatment allows nurses to work on their patient’s care to know why they visited the medical facility in the first place. In addition, this enables them to advocate for their patients and assist them in a broader context.
Finally, holistic care ensures that patients are well looked after, even after being discharged from medical facilities.
By Educating New Nurses, Patients, and Their Family Members
A nurse’s role is to act as an educator and caregiver for new nurses, patients, and families. After all, there is a significant need to educate them about healthcare-based practices, including treatment plans, recovery time, mediation, and much more.
In fact, this makes perfect sense as patients usually have to care for themselves when they leave the medical facility. When nurses do this, it allows patients to make better self-care decisions after being discharged.
Moreover, veteran nurses work tirelessly to train new nurses to deal with patients and their families in a professional work environment. In addition, they mentor rookie nurses and guide them on how to care for patients more efficiently.
In fact, the more they educate new nurses, the better it will be for improving patient care inside a healthcare facility.
By Building Trust With the Patients
It is the nurse’s job to ensure that their patients stay inside a healthcare facility is as comfortable as possible. It is typically apparent when parents take their children to a healthcare facility. Instead of leaving everything on the doctor, nurses take their time to perform their duties more effectively.
Nurses can interact and understand children better, and when the parents see their child’s comfort level with the nurse, they trust them. After all, whenever any nurse earns the trust of a child’s parents, it speeds up the healing process and reduces the chances of the child’s parent becoming angry and annoyed.
Conclusion
The contributions mentioned above only scratch the surface. The nursing profession is so diverse that almost anyone looking to explore the healthcare industry can dive in and utilize their expertise and talents in numerous ways.
In addition, unlike other disciplines, nursing is all about being empathetic and doing whatever is necessary to ensure patient safety. In the end, nurses are the heart and soul of any healthcare team, and they continue to work very hard, improving the healthcare facilities and system one patient at a time.